I want a classic mini, but...
Discussion
I cannot comment on the other two cars you mention but I had minis from being 17 to 22, and was into them in a big way. The two I had, first a 998cc City e then a 1275cc Cooper (which ended up as a 1380cc) were both modified / improved / uprated and I spent every penny I earned on bits for them.
The downside was that I looked after them, I cleaned them, I polished them, I waxoiled them, they still rusted. I would pressure wash them every evening if there was salt on the roads in winter ensuring they were clean underneath and in the nooks and crannies, they still rusted. They rusted as they were built with areas of body work that never received sufficient paint or any form of sealant to protect them.
I love minis but would not want to drive one every day as they deteriorate before your eyes. If you are happy to have to carry out body and paintwork as an ongoing rolling project (a bit like painting the Forth Bridge) you will be fine. If you can get one which is rust free and keep it for dry days you should be ok.
The one that I now share with my dad is rust free, but that is because it has done less than 4000 miles in the 23 years we have had it, and lives in a nice warm garage. Technically it is my 8 year old sons as my dad gave it to him when he was a baby.
Minis are great and offer a driving experience that is like no other car in my (limited) experience, but you do sometimes feel vulnerable looking at the wheel nuts of passing lorries. Like many classic cars they are best enjoyed on country lanes rather than motor ways, but with a tuned engine and rorty exhaust they are lots of fun.
So I am in the 'get a mini' camp, but am biased and have no experience of MG's.
The downside was that I looked after them, I cleaned them, I polished them, I waxoiled them, they still rusted. I would pressure wash them every evening if there was salt on the roads in winter ensuring they were clean underneath and in the nooks and crannies, they still rusted. They rusted as they were built with areas of body work that never received sufficient paint or any form of sealant to protect them.
I love minis but would not want to drive one every day as they deteriorate before your eyes. If you are happy to have to carry out body and paintwork as an ongoing rolling project (a bit like painting the Forth Bridge) you will be fine. If you can get one which is rust free and keep it for dry days you should be ok.
The one that I now share with my dad is rust free, but that is because it has done less than 4000 miles in the 23 years we have had it, and lives in a nice warm garage. Technically it is my 8 year old sons as my dad gave it to him when he was a baby.
Minis are great and offer a driving experience that is like no other car in my (limited) experience, but you do sometimes feel vulnerable looking at the wheel nuts of passing lorries. Like many classic cars they are best enjoyed on country lanes rather than motor ways, but with a tuned engine and rorty exhaust they are lots of fun.
So I am in the 'get a mini' camp, but am biased and have no experience of MG's.
I had both some 20 years ago. The Midget was my 'classic' project and needed loads of work, and the Mini (an 1100 Special) was my daily driver:-
Here is the Mini with the partially stripped Midget.
And the midget just waiting for its bumpers to be re-fitted.
I loved the Mini but it was rusting in every place known, it was eventually traded-in for a Nova after the boot floor became somewhat detached. Both cars had the same ability for fun at very modest speeds with the Mini being much more 'chuckable' with the Midget being much better when the sun's out. Both are tiny and felt very small back in the 90's so will feel even smaller against todays lardy traffic, but ultimately they both felt very similar in a classic way. The real choice relates to whether you're looking for rear-wheel-drive topless fun, or need the practicality of some (surprisingly useful) back seats and security of a front-wheel-drive rollerskate.
Here is the Mini with the partially stripped Midget.
And the midget just waiting for its bumpers to be re-fitted.
I loved the Mini but it was rusting in every place known, it was eventually traded-in for a Nova after the boot floor became somewhat detached. Both cars had the same ability for fun at very modest speeds with the Mini being much more 'chuckable' with the Midget being much better when the sun's out. Both are tiny and felt very small back in the 90's so will feel even smaller against todays lardy traffic, but ultimately they both felt very similar in a classic way. The real choice relates to whether you're looking for rear-wheel-drive topless fun, or need the practicality of some (surprisingly useful) back seats and security of a front-wheel-drive rollerskate.
The Surveyor said:
a front-wheel-drive rollerskate.
This last line will probably make my mind up for me!Always been a mini fan, since I was a kid. Had two before, a while ago.
All three have good parts supply, all three seem to suffer the same issues, so I'll just keep checking the classifieds for all three.
Guessing a B GT might be a little easier to get in?
I've had all three over the years. 5 minis. 1 midget. 2 MG Bs.
Depends on what you're after from the experience and what you intend to do with it. Parts are all equally cheap and equally available across them all i.e. £13 for a pair of brake disks. There's nothing you can't get for any of the cars. They're all equally tuneable and equally cheap to tweak, but the B has a head start in terms of performance. None of them are quick as standard, but feel lively enough up to 50 ish.
If you're anywhere near motorways or motorway speeds, then you want a B or a BGT, purely because of the overdrive unit. I haven't tried a midget with a ford type 9 gearbox, but apparently it's fairly common and works well. The B and the midget are the easiest to work on, purely because there's more space in the engine bay. They're all equally reliable if serviced well and you drive them often. They all rust. Extensive rust on the midget is the hardest and most expensive to deal with as there are more body parts. Anything restored should have been waxoyled or equivalent during the build.
The B has the biggest boot and most room, but only the mini has a back seat (surprisingly roomy).
If you're after a little bit of sun on your face over the summer and blatting around happily, then you want a midget or a B roadster. If this doesnt' bother you, then a mini will put a grin on your face too.
Depends on what you're after from the experience and what you intend to do with it. Parts are all equally cheap and equally available across them all i.e. £13 for a pair of brake disks. There's nothing you can't get for any of the cars. They're all equally tuneable and equally cheap to tweak, but the B has a head start in terms of performance. None of them are quick as standard, but feel lively enough up to 50 ish.
If you're anywhere near motorways or motorway speeds, then you want a B or a BGT, purely because of the overdrive unit. I haven't tried a midget with a ford type 9 gearbox, but apparently it's fairly common and works well. The B and the midget are the easiest to work on, purely because there's more space in the engine bay. They're all equally reliable if serviced well and you drive them often. They all rust. Extensive rust on the midget is the hardest and most expensive to deal with as there are more body parts. Anything restored should have been waxoyled or equivalent during the build.
The B has the biggest boot and most room, but only the mini has a back seat (surprisingly roomy).
If you're after a little bit of sun on your face over the summer and blatting around happily, then you want a midget or a B roadster. If this doesnt' bother you, then a mini will put a grin on your face too.
A Mini with a webasto sunroof provides all the rollerskate fun and an almost open top experience when you want it. I've had a lot of Minis over the years and love them all, they do rust but not as badly as some make out, particularly if you get one which is either relatively rust free and properly protected or one that has had any issues sorted properly. In reality I doubt they are worse than a Midget or a B. Having said that, I would like either of the MGs for the RWD open top experience, they suite different purposes really.
vx220 said:
...I am being swayed by Midgets and MGB GT's.
Anyone with experience of all three? I know this is a rather open topic, I don't have any specific questions, but any comments on using as a daily, value for money etc, gratefully received
Cheers
I think it depends what you want from the car.Anyone with experience of all three? I know this is a rather open topic, I don't have any specific questions, but any comments on using as a daily, value for money etc, gratefully received
Cheers
The Mini is likely the most versatile, yes they are small, like their namesake. But you can fit 4 adults in one. Which is not really true of the others.
Or just using the rear seats as additional boot space.
And yes, they are a fwd rollerskate and loads and loads of fun. But are you after fwd or rwd thrills?
The MGB GT is fairly practical, the boot is arguably bigger and more user friendly than that of a Mini and it has back seats too. But they are tiny and hard to get in and out of.
An MGB is a low down car, it'll feel more special than the Mini, but arguably no greater fun when hooning. Stock GT's aren't the sharpest handlers, but are quite nice if you are interested in fun more than speed.
That's probably the biggest let down. A BGT will likely be quicker than most stock Mini's, but it'll feel a lot slower for some reason. And the B is quite easily out paced by everything these days.
The Midget I'm not so familiar with. But logically it's the most impractical car out of your selection. Only 2 seats and the smallest interior.
Also I suspect, if an MGB feels out paced today, then a Midget is likely worse. Still a charming rwd British sports car however.
Just to throw a bit more into the mix. I went from an MGB GT to a TR7. The TR7 is much better vehicle in every respect and just as much fun. The only think the B had, it was a bit smaller and more cosy inside, you sat a little lower. I also liked the OverDrive, which you'll not find on a TR7.
My cousin had a Mini 1275GT, GT6 and now a TR7. He also thinks the TR7 is the best of the lot for the same reasons. Just as much fun, but dynamically better and more usable.
And one more to throw into the mix. As much as I love Mini's, I rather feel a Hillman Imp would actually be my pick of small car.
I've owned all three: Mini, Midget and BGT. I used the Minis and Midget for regular daily use as well as a range of club level motorsports (road rallies and autotests, mostly). Of the three, the BGT felt the least satisfactory - softer with a lazy feeling engine. More touring focused than sports. I fully accept, however, that a B can easily be sharpened up if you want to go that route.
The Minis and Midget were both huge fun and both were surprisingly tough little things that took plenty of abuse in their stride. I would think that they are similarly quick, given similar engines, albeit the Mini is more forgiving when arriving at a corner that is sharper than expected. That said, the Midget is also very chuckable and quick-witted, just in a rwd way, rather than the Mini's fwd. As ownership propositions, unless you need 4 seats I would go for the Midget, purely because the soft top adds another dimension to the experience, opening up a small car to the world. And the boot is surprisingly commodious, big enough for two tents and camping gear on a Le Mans trip. Finally, the Midget is an easier maintenance proposition with more space to work on the oily bits, compared to a Mini.
The Minis and Midget were both huge fun and both were surprisingly tough little things that took plenty of abuse in their stride. I would think that they are similarly quick, given similar engines, albeit the Mini is more forgiving when arriving at a corner that is sharper than expected. That said, the Midget is also very chuckable and quick-witted, just in a rwd way, rather than the Mini's fwd. As ownership propositions, unless you need 4 seats I would go for the Midget, purely because the soft top adds another dimension to the experience, opening up a small car to the world. And the boot is surprisingly commodious, big enough for two tents and camping gear on a Le Mans trip. Finally, the Midget is an easier maintenance proposition with more space to work on the oily bits, compared to a Mini.
I have had an MGB and currently own a Spridget.
If you want a tourer or to do any kind of regular A road driving I would vote MGB, but for anything else (and my personal preference) would vote would be Spridget as we have recently got one and although not without its problems is amazing fun and you will have plenty of space spare in the garage!
If you want a tourer or to do any kind of regular A road driving I would vote MGB, but for anything else (and my personal preference) would vote would be Spridget as we have recently got one and although not without its problems is amazing fun and you will have plenty of space spare in the garage!
Minis are fantastic. Probably the best handling car ever made. But, they are now way overpriced. To think I had them for years and never paid more than 500 quid for one..
Midgets, MGBs and Spitfires are very good value in comparison and are all good fun to drive.
All of these cars have great parts availability, especially panels, they often need them!
Midgets, MGBs and Spitfires are very good value in comparison and are all good fun to drive.
All of these cars have great parts availability, especially panels, they often need them!
Thanks for all the replies and experiences
A mate suggested a GT6, and as he's the guy that would be looking after it for me I might take his advice.
After lots of advert and forum trawling, I feel I can get a better BGT for my cash (certainly compared to the GT6) but the GT6 exhaust note might convince me to save a bit more money.
A mate suggested a GT6, and as he's the guy that would be looking after it for me I might take his advice.
After lots of advert and forum trawling, I feel I can get a better BGT for my cash (certainly compared to the GT6) but the GT6 exhaust note might convince me to save a bit more money.
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